"Why didn't you tell me you have no place to stay?!"
Ed rubbed the back of his neck stiffly. "I uh, didn't want to worry you?" He grinned sheepishly. Eddy inhaled sharply through his nose, "You can't use that excuse!" Growling, "That's my excuse!"
The redhead fidgeted with the helm of his tattered tee. His beloved green jacket was now torn in places, patches sewn inadequately here and there. He was a mess; not in a gross way, but in a 'my life has fallen apart' way. Ed shrugged awkwardly, casually lowering himself to sit on the concrete. He crossed his legs and massaged his knuckles.
Eddy pinched the bridge of his nose, trying his best not to lose his ever-growing temper, "How long have you been in this tent?" He jabbed his thumb to the aforementioned crudely set up shelter. "Not long! I was in a homeless -er, house? Yeah! Uh, for a little while.. but they wouldn't let me stay too long." Ed leaned over to his left side and picked up a stained plastic cup, "See this? Sometimes people put money in it! I don't know why, but! I use what they give me to buy food."
He pouted, "Though most of the time, uh, grown-ups start yelling at me for being there, tellin' me to get a job-" no longer able to swallow his emotions like he'd be taught, Eddy cut him off, seething, "Why!? It's 'cause you look like a lazy ass adult livin' on the damn streets! Why didn't ya call us?! Your ass is lucky my dad sent me to this town for business! Why are you even here!? You just-," he scoffed, making an explosion motion with his hands, "-disappeared! Do you have any idea how worried we've been?!"
Ed paused, then spoke cautiously, "Mom kicked me out. Said she'd hurt me real bad if I stayed." Eddy scrunched up his face in a grimace and jeered, "That crazy bitch says that all the time, what makes this time any different?" he crossed his arms, "You could've just stayed at my place instead of pissin' off somewhere!"
The lovable oaf's eyes began to swell with tears during Eddy's rant, and the shorter teen groaned inwardly. He tried to slow his breathing, just like Edd and that bright new therapist taught him to.
Ed stuttered through his words as sobs bubbled in his chest, "She did-did mean it! She did! She grabbed me but th-the ear and threw ma-me out the d-door! Sarah tried to s-sta-stop her but I told her not to ca-cause then Mom would be mad at h-er too!" Fat droplets of salty tears began to stream down his dirty red cheeks, "I-i didn't know what el-else to do! I ran an-and ran and r-ran and-and-"
Ed's body shook with harsh hiccups as he covered his face in humiliation. Eddy opened his mouth, then closed it, clenching his jaw. This wasn't his thing, comforting wasn't something he did. Edd was the mom who always knew what to do.
Eddy kneeled to the blubbering mess' level. "Hey, gather your things," He commanded sternly, "I'm taking you home."
"No!" Ed shrieked, pulling at his hair as he rushed to his feet, nearly knocking the other teen over, "Don't take me back there!" he continued, thrusting his face close to Eddy's as the latter scrambled to stand.
"Woah, Woah!" Eddy raised his hands in defense, "That nasty ass basement ain't ya home!" His expression softened momentarily, "You're coming back to my place, Mom's gonna make you something warm, okay?"
Eddy stood on his toes a bit, placing his hands meticulously onto Ed's quivering fingers and untangled them delicately from his hair.
"Look I promise," his gravelly voice hushed slightly as he gently kneaded Ed's hands with his own, "we're gonna figure somethin' out. We ain't gonna let her hurt you no more."
Ed gulped and sniffed, attempting to keep his tremors at bay. It was in vain, however, for his face was swiftly soaked in crocodile tears once more. Unable to control himself, he abruptly freed his hands from Eddy's grasp and enveloped him in a bone-crushing hug, earning a startled squawk from the other teen.
Eddy honestly did not like this, but he patted Ed's back nevertheless. He was still getting used to such physical contact, but he figured that his friend's well-being was currently more important. He didn't know what he was doing, but he'd be damned if he wasn't gonna help his best friend and keep him safe.
Swallowing his pride, Eddy sighed deeply, pushing Ed away enough to meet his eye. Cracking a faint smile, he murmured, "Let's go home, brother."
Ed's face damn near split with a grin as he crushed his friend-no, brother- in another embrace.